RIVERSIDE COUNTY: Sequestration cuts could hit senior citizens

Services to Inland seniors, including meals, would be affected by across-the-board federal budget cuts, according to Riverside and San Bernardino county officials.

Both counties expect federal funding for various programs to be cut when the new fiscal year begins July 1. The $85 billion in automatic cuts – known as sequestration – began March 1 and are split evenly between defense and domestic spending. About $1 trillion in cuts are expected in the next decade if sequestration stays in place.

Sequestration came about as a result of a 2011 compromise between the GOP and Democrats over the federal borrowing limit. The cuts were meant to spur a bi-partisan committee of lawmakers to reach a deficit reduction deal.

A deal was never struck and now there’s no end in sight for sequestration. It’s not even the primary focus in Washington. President Barack Obama and Democrats are currently facing off with Republicans over student loan interest rates.

Sequestration cuts already have been felt locally. Job-training programs in Riverside and San Bernardino counties saw reductions of more than $1 million, and state officials announced in April that sequestration would cause an 18 percent cut in unemployment benefits for more than 400,000 Californians.

Also, the tower at Riverside Municipal Airport was scheduled to close earlier this year due to sequestration. Congress last month authorized more funding for the Federal Aviation Administration, allowing the tower to stay open.

Local officials are projecting cuts for fiscal 2013-14. Both counties’ social services departments rely heavily on federal and state dollars.

Riverside County expects almost $291,000 less for senior nutrition programs, equal to more than 53,000 meals. The county has contracts with nonprofit groups to provide meals, and about 7,000 seniors are enrolled.

The county Office of Aging has asked for $212,000 in county funding to offset the cut, according to Deputy County Executive Officer Ivan Chand.

Funding for senior transportation could drop by roughly $17,000, eliminating almost 3,400 rides. Senior legal services is expecting a $22,000 cut – equal to 752 hours of service – and caregiver funding is expected to drop $33,000, equal to 2,569 hours of service.

In San Bernardino County, elderly nutrition funding could be cut by $308,000, eliminating 55,727 meals, according to a May county human services report to the Board of Supervisors. Other cuts could reduce family caregiver services for about 100 seniors.

San Bernardino County also is bracing for cuts in Head Start, an education program for preschoolers. About $1.86 million in cuts could close two Head Start school sites and reduce services to 126 children.

Services to the homeless and those with HIV and AIDS could also be affected in San Bernardino County.

Riverside County Regional Medical Center expects to lose $600,000 in Medicare funding next fiscal year. The county-run hospital is already facing a projected $50 million deficit for fiscal 2013-14.

Sequestration also could affect staffing at Riverside County’s Economic Development Agency. Spokesman Tom Freeman said that keeping vacant posts unfilled, as well as resignations and retirements, could prevent layoffs.

Members of the Inland congressional delegation disagree over who needs to act to end sequestration.

Rep. Mark Takano, D-Riverside, “has opposed sequestration cuts from day one and believes that reducing our nation’s debt by cutting benefits for seniors and shifting the cost of essential programs onto local governments is an incredibly misguided policy,” Takano spokesman Brett Morrow wrote in an email.

“Congressman Takano hopes that (Republican House Speaker John Boehner) will realize the damage these cuts are doing to our economy and take action.”

In an email, Rep. Ken Calvert, R-Corona, wrote he twice voted to end sequestration and that the cuts affect “almost all parts of the federal government, including those services to some of our most vulnerable populations.”

“But the Senate did not take action and unfortunately the President and Senate Democrats keep on insisting on higher taxes to end sequestration, which I adamantly oppose, while ignoring the real drivers of our debt,” he wrote.